News Archive
7/6/2021
Furlough Levels Have Fallen By A Third Since January As Take-up Of The Scheme Reaches Two Billion Working Days
The number of furloughed workers fell by 880,000 in April - and by 1.6 million since January - as the economy began to reopen, while take-up of the Job Retention Scheme reached two billion working days, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the latest HMRC and ONS furlough statistics published on Thursday 3 June 2021. The latest HMRC data, which gives a detailed breakdown of take-up of the Job Retention Scheme up to 30 April, shows that the cumulative take-up of the scheme has now reached a remarkable two billion working days.7/6/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19: State Of The Epidemic - 04 June 2021
State of the Epidemic in Scotland - 4th June 2021 Background This report summarises the current situation on the Covid-19 epidemic in Scotland. It brings together the different sources of evidence and data about the epidemic in Scotland at this point in time, why we are at that place, and what is likely to happen next.7/6/2021
Union membership increases for fourth year in row - but fewer than one-in-10 low-paid workers are members
After four-decades of decline, 2020 was the fourth year in a row in which trade union membership among employees in the UK increased - with membership up 120,000 on the year before - according to Resolution Foundation analysis of new statistics published 0n 27 May 2021 by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Foundation notes that union membership among employees increased from 6.2 million to 6.6 million between 2016 and 2020 - a significant rise but still just half the peak membership of 13.2 million in 1979.7/6/2021
Supporting People To Get Online
Around 23,000 people will be given new online skills and training to help improve their chances of securing a job or to reduce isolation. The £26 million Connecting Scotland programme, which helps those on lower incomes and groups like the elderly, will offer online training skills as well as providing people with devices like iPads and Chromebooks, and unlimited data for two years.7/6/2021
UK facing a ‘decisive decade' of change that the country is neither used to, nor prepared for
Lack of a renewed economic strategy for the 2020s risks ‘Italian style' relative decline. The UK is facing a ‘decisive decade' of change as five seismic economic shifts - the Covid aftermath, Brexit, the Net Zero transition, an older population and rapid technological change – come together.6/6/2021
Wester Olrig Farm For Sale Offers Over £1.5million
Wester Olrig is a superb, highly productive mixed arable and stock farm extending to approximately 330 acres (134 hectares). The farm comprises a comfortable single storey farmhouse, 2 semi-detached cottages, an extensive range of modern and traditional farm buildings and renewable energy from a wind turbine, solar panels and air source heat pump for the farmhouse.
6/6/2021
Coronavirus COVID-19: daily data for Scotland - 6 June 2021
775 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 20,675 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 4.0% of these were positive.6/6/2021
418 Days Until Halkirk Highland Games 2022
With almost every event once again cancelled for 2021 Halkirk Highland Games has a count down on its web site heading to 2022.. 418 days to go PHOTO The 2019 heavies with some committee members and the Games Chief Lord Thurso.
5/6/2021
Councillor Nicola Sinclair Standing Down From Highland Council
Councillor Nicola Sinclair will stand down as an independent councillor for East Caithness on 25th June 2021. She will take up a position as reporter for the Press and Journal returning to her former career as a journalist.
5/6/2021
Increasing Free school meals
More than 90,000 primary school pupils will be entitled to new free school meal support in term time. The Scottish Government and local authority partners have reached agreement to introduce universal free school lunches for primary 4 and 5 children and targeted support during school holidays for all eligible primary and secondary children and young people.5/6/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19: Daily Data For Scotland - 5 June 2021
860 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 27,436 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 3.4% of these were positive.5/6/2021
Applications Now Being Accepted For Education Maintenance Allowance For The New Academic Year
All eligible young people are being encouraged to apply for a weekly, term time allowance of £30 per week from August 2021. The Highland Council administers Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in respect of eligible young people from across its 29 secondary schools.
5/6/2021
Funding To Restore Scotland's Iconic Peatlands
£22 million this year towards meeting climate change targets. Projects to restore Scotland's peatlands will get a share of £22 million this year to significantly reduce carbon emissions and support biodiversity as part of the government's climate change plan.
4/6/2021
Coffee morning for older or isolated veterans and/or dependents
"Thurso Legion is starting a regular drop-in cafe for the Veterans community - please come and join us for our first session! We offer a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and a place to meet like minded souls for refreshments and conversation. We will also have a representative from the Veterans Community Support Service available at the first drop-in to listen and assist with any issues Veterans or their families may have.
4/6/2021
Airline Suit Work Restarts In Redundant Laboratories At Dounreay
Airline suit work has restarted at Dounreay after more than a year's delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wearing an airline suit is cumbersome and the wearer needs to be dressed and undressed by a dedicated team of helpers who then provide support throughout the task.
4/6/2021
UK Secures New Deal With Norway, Iceland And Liechtenstein
The agreement's cutting-edge digital provisions make it the most advanced free trade deal signed by the three countries to date. The United Kingdom has secured a new trade deal with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein that will boost critical British sectors like digital, slash tariffs on high-quality British food and farm products and supports jobs in every corner of our country.4/6/2021
Accelerating The Vaccination Programme - Military to help increase number of appointments
Under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) scheme, personnel from across all three services will be deployed on the tasking from Monday 7 June for up to five weeks. Helping to accelerate Scotland's vaccination delivery programme, the support will comprise of: 42 service personnel to NHS Lothian: made up of 36 vaccinators, 4 registered health professionals and 2 command and control managers.4/6/2021
Coronavirus COVID-19: daily data for Scotland - 4 June 2021
992 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 26,962 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 3.9% of these were positive.4/6/2021
Caithness And North Sutherland Fund Looking For A New Director
CAITHNESS AND NORTH SUTHERLAND FUND DIRECTOR VACANCY (unremunerated) Deadline for applications: Monday 14th of June. The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund is a community fund established by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd to distribute a £4M funding package to community projects that will increase the attractiveness of Caithness & North Sutherland as a place to live, work and invest.
4/6/2021
